9/11 Health Services in Lower Manhattan Community Receive Federal Funding for the First TimeOctober 2, 2008

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) $10 million to provide health screening, monitoring and treatment services to Lower Manhattan area workers, residents and students who were affected by the collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC). The WTC Environmental Health Center is the sole recipient of the competitive grant which will be administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and provide up to $30 million over the next three years. This is the first time the federal government has funded 9/11 health services for people who are not eligible for treatment at the WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program which serves people who participated in WTC rescue, recovery and clean-up operations.

HHC President Alan Aviles thanked both the City and the New York Congressional delegation for their support. According to Aviles, because of this funding the WTC Environmental Health Center "will have the resources to expand access to treatment for the clean-up workers, local business owners, students, families who lived downtown and the other children and adults who still struggle with the physical effects or the psychological and emotional trauma caused by this attack on the nation." To date, more than 3,000 people have received care at the three clinics that comprise a program that was begun with charitable contributions and expanded with City funding. Many more New Yorkers are expected to seek services as a result of a new multi-media advertising campaign promoting the Center with the tagline "Lived There? Worked There? You Deserve Care."

In the CDC grant announcement, Dr. Christine Branch, the acting director of NIOSH, said, "We look forward to working with HHC, particularly Bellevue, on this effort to expand health services and treatment to residents, students and others who were in the vicinity of the attacks of September 11, 2001."